PT-88 vs. PT-88+

[Erik_Sweden]

I have searched and not found any answer, so: has any of you done a side by side test of PT-88 and PT-88+ ?

[rudysan]

I never compare them side to side, but have you tried the Miraphone TU43 with your Hagen ? It is the design mouthpiece for the 497 Hagen. It is surprisingly easy to pcontrol for the size and gives a huge sound.

[Robert Tucci]

Erik,

There are three versions of the venerable PT-88 as made under my personal supervision. The PT-88, the PT-88L and the PT-88+. Note that this applies to our other most popular contrabass tuba mouthpiece, the PT-50.



Additional shell weight darkens the sound, provides greater stability at high volume and strengthens projection. Tonal quality becomes more sober and the flexibility is reduced. There is yet another version, the Canadian Brass Heritage Series MB-88. This uses a classic shell design, a narrower rim and modified backbore. Due to the lighter shell the results are inverse to the heavy-shell PT-88+. That is, tonal color is enriched, flexibility is greater, resistance is lower and high volume strength is less. My experience after decades of orchestral playing with the PT-88 was that it is advisable to have both the standard shell and the heavy shell versions on hand. For some works and in particular different concert venues, one or the other would sound better.

At this time I would like to once again present some important information. We no longer supply the former U.S. distributor with Perantucci mouthpieces. It seems they are offering old and essentially obsolete versions as made by someone else.



My answer to this was to develop and present our most popular models under my own Robert Tucci brand name. The following new mouthpieces are available from Baltimore Brass, the Canadian Brass Store and Horn Guys in California. There are nine mouthpieces in this series: RT-36, RT-44, RT-48, RT-48+, RT-50, RT-50+, RT-64 (F-tuba revised), RT-88 and RT-88+. These are highly-refined and of excellent manufactured quality.

This should clarify the shell weight factor for you. In regard to other remarks, product integrity and customer value is my highest priority.

Bob Tucci
Munich

[bigboymusic]

I studied with a particular Symphony player that had me do everything on my PT88... It was one of the best things I ever did. It is a great MP. As the designer said above, The + can add a lot of presence, but it wore me out. I had to create a lot of the things that the regular 88 and my horn seemed to just do naturally... This was mostly on an Alex 163 and a PT6 at the time....

[Erik_Sweden]

Thanks for the answer. Where do I buy a RT mouthpiece i Europe ?

[Robert Tucci]

Erik,

The RT mouthpieces are intended for the U.S. market for the reasons indicated. Seems you are located in Europe! The RT-88, RT-88+ (mouthpieces arrived yesterday from plating) or a PT-88 or PT-88+ can be ordered through our shop http://www.tubaboerse.de" target="_blank" target="_blank.

Bob